. >> this economy is headed in the right direction ask will stay that way as long as there aren't any self inflekted wounds-Ñ;n. >> it's a lot of money. it's down nearly $1.1 trillion. at a peak of $1.4 trillion at the end of president bush's second term. experts say the deficit could drop by 2015. >> today, british parliament legalized same-sex marriage that7:ru:u&d allow couples to get married in both civil and religious ceremonies if instit yug as agree to it. it needs to pass a final vote next week. the u.s. military appears ready to extend benefits to same-sex partners of service members. a final decision has not been made on which benefits would be included. pentagon is likely to aallow the partners to have access to some programs. the pentagon repealed a ban on openly gay service men and women 16 months ago stit of florida's python challenge seems to beç&ój paying dividen. the commission says 50 nonnative pythons have been captured during the first three weeks of the competition. officials organized this contevt to raise awareness about the snake's threat to wildlife. about